Band-cutter and feeder.



- J. F. LANGDON.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER APPLICATION FILED APR-J7. I911.

1 13mm Patented. A1m27, 19 15;

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WTESE'S: JFJZVNVENTOR. ANGHWJM I ATTORNEY.

J. F. LANGDON.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1911.

1 m me Patented Apr. 27, 1915 4 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

I W1TNEssEs.-' I INVENTOR .lfiLANapmm J. F. L-ANGDO N.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER. APPLICATION man m. 11. m1.

Q/Z/WM Paten ted @1127, 1915 n J. F. LANGDON.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER".

, APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, m1.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

nnrrnn snares entrant? enrich.

JOHN F. LANGDON, OF KANSAS CITY, KANQAES.

BAND- BUTTER ANT) FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. at, rate.

Application filed April 17, 1911. Serial No. 621M139.

.lowing to be a full, clear, and exact d'escrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of thisspecification.

My invention relates to feeders for threshing machines, clover hullers, alfalfa mills and the -like, and has for its principal object to provide rcciprocatory parts for cutting; the bands of sheaves delivered thereto and feeding same to a threshing or other machine.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means for driving the feeder from the threshing mechanism, and a governor controlled clutch for forming a driving connection for the feeder only when the main machine is traveling at thrcshing speed.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means for operating the clutch whereby the operation of the feeder may be automatically stopped, should the machine become clogged, without interrupting the operation of the cutter or the speed of the threshing cylinder.

It is a further. object of my invention to provide the improved details of construc 'tion, hereinafter described and illustrated V is an enlarged detail view of a part of thedriving mechanism, the fixed disk on the conveycr shaft being broken away to show the clutch connection between same and the loose gear. Fig. V1 is a vertical wction on the line Vl'Vl, Fig. V. Fig. VII is an enlarged side view of the driving drum and governor on the band cutter shaft. Fig. VIII is a plan view of same. Fig. IX is a detail View of a le er for throwing the emergency clutch. Fig. X is a detail View of one of the band cutter blades.

levers for carrying the retarder shaft.

Referring more in detail to the parts ;1

designates the frame of the threshing masides of the machine frame and providedwith an exterior pulley wheel 5.

Mounted on the machine frame is a feeder casing 6, the inner end of which is located above the threshing cylinder 3 and the outer end preferably projected beyond the end of the machine, the casing being anchored to the machine by links 7, having hooked ends v Fig. X1 is a detail view of one of the bell crank 8 adapted to take into eyelets 9 that project from the inner end of the feeder casing.

Journaled in the sides of easing 6 is a shaft 10, and fixed to the shaft Within the casing isa roller 11, over which the conveyer belt 12 is adapted totravel.

.l'ournaled in the sides of easing 6, ove

the inner end of the conveyor 12 is a cranked shaft 13, one end of which extends through the casing 6 and carries a belt wheel 14, by

which the feeder is operated from the threshing cylinder, as will presently be described. Within the casing, shaft 13 is provided with a plurality of elbows 15, each ofwhich carries a boxing 16-16', the member 16 of which is extended both above and below the path of the shaft.

' Mounted on the lower end of each of members 16, is a knife 1'? which extends forwardly over the conveyer and is preferably channeled to receive the shanks of individual blades 17 which are-riveted to the bodies 17 and have rea rwardly facing, curved, cutting edges.

18 designates links which are pivotally mounted on a part of the casing 6, at the rear of the crank shaft, and are pivotally connected at their forward ends with the upper parts of the boxing members 16, so that when the crank shaft is revolved to reproduce an up and down-movement there.

ciprocate the band cutting knives, the links 18 will turn the looxin'gs on the cranks to of, the combined action producing an elliptical travel of the knives, so that they may be lifted over an incoming sheaf on their forward movement, and move downwardly,

'during their backward movement to engage and cut the bands of the sheaves carried on the conveyer.-

Revolubly mounted on each end shaft 10, on the exterior of the casing, is the for- Journsled in the elbows of the levers l9,

' and extended through saidslots and through the interior of the casing, is a shaft 21, upon which are mounted e plurality oi retarding members 22, comprising spiral blades 23.

The-reterder shaft is yieldingly suspended in the feeder by means of the hangers 25526, which are pivotally. connected at their lower ends with the bell cranks 19 end at theirupper ends with bell crank levers 27, 28, which are fixed on. a rock shaft 29 that is journaled in and extends entirely through the casing 6. The link 27 ishell erenkeds and connected with the arm there of opposite the henger-25 is e spring 39, which is anchored toe bolt 31 that extends through eyelets 32 on. the cesin and is provided with e wing nut 33 by w ich the tel sion of thesprin; may be regulated, to sda t-the reterd'er or work armor-ding; to the con 'tion of the-straw that is fed through the feeder. e i

Pivotellyfmouuted in or hearing 34 that is mounted on the casing-shove the link 28, is e lever 35, haying e hendle ortion 36 and e foot 37, which letter is o eptedfor engagement with the linlr' 28 to lowerv the retarder against the tension of the spring and stop the feeder mechanism, as will pressently be described.

Reimluloly mounted on the orenkerl listed cutter shaft-13, is e Wheel 38, having; a later ally direct-ed, peripheral flange 39 at one side. Fixed to the hub o f Wheel 38 at the side opposite the flange 13 o sprocket 4d].

Fixed to shaft 13 at the flanged.

but are normally spaced from the flange 39, one end of each arm being connected with the bar and the other being free and pro vided with e laterally directed head 43 Near each end of as. is a post g4, and pivotally mounted on each post is a go ernor arm 45, having etveightecl body 46 at one end, and a foot all the oppositeend in engagement With'the heed 223 of spring arm 42.

meshes On each governor arm, atoppositc sides of the post thine pins 18, {111d pivotally mounted on the pins and connecting said overnor arms are the links -9, through w iich the governor arms are united to insure concerted action. With this mechanism, the governor and spring arms will revolve idly with the crank shalt until sufiicient speed of the shaft has been attained to throw the governor arms out against the spring arms with force enough to cause the spring arms to engage end hold against the flange 39 when the wheel will be revolved.

I prefer to provide the governoforms with a latch 5 for holding the arms in their spread position, in which they hold the spring arms firmly against the inner face of llungc 412' and liorm. a permanent clutch therebetween. The latch may be formed in two parts, each of which may be screwed to one of them-ins, and the separate parts connected by it turnbuckle by which the arms may be spread.

It is apparent that with the lau h in place a permanent driving connection is fornied between the shaft 13 and wheel 38, and a permanent transmission between. the cutting and feeding parts, except for an emergency:

release which will presently be described.

Mounted on the feeder casing is a shaft '50. Fixed on shaft 50-, is e spr hot 51, hovlllg connect-ion with the ction drive sprocket l0, tl'irough 1i belt Also fixed on shaft 50 is a gear Wheel 53 which meshes with the ge -tr 54 on a. wheel 55 that is revolubly. mounted on the conveyor shaft 10.

On the outer face of Wheel 55 are a; number of posts 56, carrying rollers 57.

- and loose designates a, spring which normally yieldingly retains the dog in its connecting position.

Q11. the foceof wheel is o flange 63. lP'ermitneiidzl'- mounted, at one end, on a post 64: on casing 6, is a strap 65, which is passed over the flange 63 and is connected at its opposite end, with the retarder shaft 21, so that when shaft is lowered the strap will act on the brake band to stop the revolution of the feeder by retarding the travel of Wheel on the cutter shaft 13, so that the spring arms Will slide therein.

" e their use is not essential to the 11mp efer, in some cases, to provide the auxiliary cu ling 'nives. With thielconstruction journal e ft 66 in the messes sides of the casing above and to the rear of the retarder shaft 21. Fixed to shaft 66 are a umber of cam shaped knives 67, which are stag ered in arrangement and may, it 5 desired, e made to inter-mesh with the retarder fingers, although such arrangement is not essential.

Hinged to each of the boxing members 16 that supports a forward band cutter knife,

is a pressure barfiii, which extends backivardly and downwardly above the retarders and is pivotally supported by hangers 69, preferably comprising double straps havyokes 70 at their lower ends pivotally connected with the rear ends to the bars, and yokes 70' at their forward ends pivotally connected with eye members 71 on the top of the casing. When the cam knives are used,- the pressure bars may be extended therebetween as'illustrated in Fig. IV.

Bars 68'serve to guide the material from the conveyor over the rctarder and into the threshing concave, and are set sufficiently close to the retarder, so that should an unout sheet or mass of grain, large enoughto clog the cylinder, pass the band cutting knives, the mass'will bind between same and the retarder and stop the machinery with-- out damage, until the mass can be broken to assist in guiding and stiffening the action of the band cutting knives and may be pro vided with the blades 7272, the former having rearwardly facing cutting edges adapted to cut the band of a sheaf which may have passed unsevered beneath the for ward band cutters and to chop the material on the backward travel of the bars, and the blades 72 having forwardly facing cutting edges adapted for serving the same purpose on the forward travel of the bars, and also for back feeding and guiding material into the threshing concave.

The feeder may be operated. from the threshing cylinder by means of a belt 73 (Fig. H) which is run over the pulley 5 on the cylinder shaft 4, the pulley 14; on the crank shaft 13, a pulley 74 which may be mounted on a shaft'which, when the cam knives are used may be the shaft 66 and thereby obviate the necessity of providing special gearing for actuating the knives, and preferably, over pulley 75 on a belt ti ghtener .76 of any ordinary construction, so that '5 the feeder is operated simultaneously with the operation of the main machine.

l Vhen the cam knives ()7 are used, I provide an emergency trip for stopping the conveyor, comprising a governor 77, having geared connection 7'2 with the knife shaft 436, so that whon the knife shaft is traveling, the'govcrnor will lift a rod 78. Pivotally mounted below the governor rod is a lever'79, one arm ofwhich has a hook t 81 thereon adapted for engagement with up to free the parts. These bars also serve asscmbledas described, the threshing ma-v chine is started and the revolution of the threshing cylinder transmits motion to the crank shaft and, when the rear cam knives are used, to the cam shaft, through the belt 73, rotary motion of the crank shaft being transposed into partly reciprocal motion of the knives, owing to thecharacter of their mounting. When the band cutter knives are actuated, the pressure bars 68 are reciprocated over a part of the conveys): and over the retarder.

During the initial operation of the threshing machine, the conveyor is inoperative, but as soon as the threshing cylinder is operated at a predetermined speed, the revolution of the crank shaft will generate sufiicient centrifugal force to throw the governor weights at outwardly so that the feet 47 will engage the heads on the spring arms 42 and force said arms against the flange of wheel 38, forming a friction clutch through which the wheel isrcvolvcd.v Sprocket 40, being fixed to wheel 38 is revolved therewith and revolves the loose gear Wheel 55 on the conveyer shaft, through the cha'n belt and gearing heretofore described. v ith the governor arm latch in use, the wheel 38 will revolve with the shaft independent of the rate of travel of the latter and as though the wheel were fixed rigidly on the shaft. When the loose wheel is revolved one of the rollers 57 engages the dog 59 on the disk that is fixed to the conveyor shaft, so that-the conveyer is actuated thereby, the. revolution of the conveyor serving to revolve the retarder,

through the chain and sprocket connection therebetwcen. With these parts in operation, sheaves fed to the conveyor are carried beneath the reciprocatory knives, where the bands are cut and the straw spread so that it can he moved back to the threshing cylinder, the recipro'catory bars assisting in the backward travel and confining the straw over the retarder so as to limit the quantity delivered to the cylinder.

Should too great a mass of material be dclivored to the cutting knives it will clog between the knives and conveyor, so that the pressure on the conveyer will act as a brake on the transmission, which, overcoi'niug the frictional clutch will alow the wheel 38 to slip on the spring arm. The conveyer is stopped when the clutch slips, so that no more grain is fed into the cutter, but the reciprocatory knives continue to work, and the material is raked off of the conveyor into the thresher. As soon as the mass is broken up end pectielly distributed, he

strain is relieved, nor 1S rcsumetl; Should too greet a quantity of material and the Work of the car- 'be passed between the knives and clog between the pressurebcrs and reterclex', the

I pressure on the i'etarder will lower the some ego-inst sheten'sion of the spring 30, so that such as rye, losses into the concave it is sometimes held by the ref aide? As the threslnng cylinder is traveling much faster by -the retarder fingers. When the reminder is jerked downwardly the governor is octw.

cited; to stop the feeaer until the threshing cylinder has combed out the mess and the resistance oflzhe springs has been overcome, so that the retarder'wlll automatically lift. The feeding operabion is bhen continued.

When the coin lmives are used, material clogging between the cams and rctarder will aleclncnjlie travel ofih came so that the governor 7"? will straighten and rock the lever arm sfiinto'engcgement with the dog 59, thereby holding hhe clog enai causing it to rock back out of the path of; the rollers 57 :lo free the'locse gear Wheelend break the can nection bemoan the initial drivers and the .oonvcyer, or should the ca m driving belt hold the elicit ng-cine; slippage, so that the speed could not be slackeneol, the retorcl er will be moved. down by the mess of material and act as described Wibh greference so the pressure bars.

Should the operator Wish to seep the feeder immediately, without Waiting to call instructions to the operator of the main machine, the hand lever be operated to lower the returiler and broke the retul'der gem, in the same'manuer as this operation is performed automatically when the machine is clogged.

It is apparent that with the devices (lethe machine, due to clogging or overfecding,

anal: that while it may be driven directly from--the main machinesflts control is independenl', thereoi and to; a great extent autodesire to secure income.

adjustable retnrder, means operable by the reminder for controlling said clutch mechenism, anal moons movable toward and from the recorder for pressing material against the retercler, after .clehvcry of the material iron: the conveyor, whereby a-ceion of the rcborder is governed by the condition of: groin than the murder; there. is o tendency top jerk the retardcr dowmihe muss being held;

guessing thercover.

3. In s feeder, the combination with an automatically adjustable rotor-dot, of aconveyor oewieal for doliverin material over the beta!" or, means movable toward and from the reeardei: for thrusting a moss of material delivered by the conveyor against the retargier, and means controllable by the retorder for actuating the conveyor whereby travel of the conveyor is influenced by position of the rctorcler.

.4. In a. feeder, the combincbioii with 1 conveyor, 01" driving mechanism, clutch mechanism for actuating the conveyor from the driving mechanism, on autoniuticully adiustoble retarler onto which material is doiiverecl by the conveyor, vei ticclly movable means adapted for projection into n mass of material carried by the retarder, and means operably connected. with the reterder for controlling said clutch mechanism.

5. In e feeder, the combination with on automatically adjustable retargler, of a conveyor ads ted for delivering material onto the retard r, means ado ted for movement over the reborder, an having members adapted for projection intoa mass of mubusting means. scribe-(l, there is little danger of clamage to" 6. In c feedey the combination with a driving member, .of a conveyor, means normally opei'et-ively con llec iing the driving member with the conveyei', on automatically ucljusmble retainer, incansroperable by"the rounder for stopping said "conveyor, and means operable independently of the con- V8378? endfx'etarder for combing material from-theireterder. J l

T. In a, feeder the combination with a driving member, of a conveyor, means normally operativcly connecting the driving member and conveyor, an automatically adjustable retorcler, moons operable from the conveyor ior actuating the returder, means operable by the re scrder for stopping the CIX incense W conveyer, and means operable independently of the conveyer and retarder for combing material from the retarder when the conveyer and retarder are idle.

3. In a feeder thevcombination with a driving member, of a conveyer, means normally operably connecting the driving member and conveyor, an automatically adjustable retardcr adapted for revol'uble travel, means for operating the retarder from the conveyer, and means operable independently of the conveyer and in the line of feed for combing material from the retarder when latter is lowered, for the purpose set forth. M

10. In a feeder, the combination with a conveyor and a band cutter, of yielding means for supporting a retarder and a retarder supported by said means, an oscillating lrnife bar extended over the retarder and adapted for travel in the direction of the feed and for positively pressing an over-' charge of material thereagainst to lower same against its yielding support, and mechanism connecting the conveyer and retarder whereby the travel of the former is interrupted when the latter is lowered, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a feeder, the combination. with a conveyerjof a cranked band cutter shaft, band cutters comprising upright members pivotally mounted on cranked parts of the shaft and having forwardly directed knives on their lower ends, links pivot-ally connecting upper ends of the uprigl'its with a stationary part of the feeder to impart oscillating; movement to the knives when the crank is actuated, a spring supported re tarder, mechanism. for stopping the conveyer when the retardcr is lowered, and oscilla tin g knife bars located over the retarder with their forward ends pivotally connected with the cutter uprights and their rear ends pivotally suspended. from a stationary part, the supports for said bars being rigid to positiyely press an overcharge of grain against the rctarder, for the purpose set forth.

12. In a feeder, the combination with a conveyor, of an automatically adjustable retarder, aidriving member, means normally operatively connecting the driving member and conveyer and adapted for automatic disconnection from said driving member,

and a brakeoperable by the retarder and connectedwith the conveyer whereby the conveyer is retarded and said normally operative means disconnected from its driv ing member. v i

13. In a feeder, the combination with a conveyor, of an automatically adjustable retarder, a driving member, means normally operatively connecting. the driving member and conveyer and adapted for governable disconnection from said driving member, a. brake flange connected with the conveyer, and a strap operable by the retarder and adapted for frictional engagement with the flange whereby the conveyor is retarded and said normally operative means disconnected from its driving member.

14. In a feeder, the combination with a band cutter, and means for actuating same, of a conveyor, an automatically adjustable retarder operable from the conveyor, a driving member, means normally operatively connecting the driving member and com veyer and adapted for governable disconnection from said member, means operable from the retarder for holding the conveyer,

and means operable independently of the conveyer and retarder for combing material from the conveyer and retarder when the conveyer is held.

15. In a feeder, the combination with a con'veyer, of a crank shaft, a vertically arranged member revolubly mounted on the cranked part of said shaft, a link connected with said member above the mounting and pivotally connected with a stationary portion of the feeder, a relatively horizontal pressure bar Divotally connected with said member and extending backwardly and downwardly therefrom, and a suspending link pivotally mounted on the feeder and pivotally connected with said pressure bar.

16. The combination in a feeder, of a conveyer, a retarder, a crank shaft, a vertically arranged member pivotally mounted on a cranked part of said shaft and extending above and below its mounting, a knife fixed to the lbwer end of said member and extending forwardly over the conveyer, a link pivotally connected with the upper end of said member and extending rearwardly tl'iercfrom, the rear end of said link being pivotally mounted on a stationary portion of the feeder, a relatively horizontal pressure bar having its forward end pivotally mounted on said lTlEDflbEl, at the back of the member mounting, and extending rearwardly over the retarder, and a link pivotally connected with said pressure bar and with a stationary portion of the feeder.

17. In a feeder, the combination with a band cutter and a conveyer, ofautomath cally yieldable supports, a retarder carried by said supports and extendlng across the machine at the end of the conveyer, mechanisin for driving the conveyer and reterder, meansoperahle upon she lowering of said retarder for interrupting the driving action of said mechanism,- and a pressure member adapted for travel in e fined path over the retarder, and for positively pressing an overcharge or" material thereageinsia, for the purpose set forth.

18. In a feeder, the combination with a band'cut cer having a suitable shaft, of e revoluole retarder adapted for automatic verticahedjusiment, means for normally, yieldin-gly retaining said recerder at the up- "per limit of-its travel, a conveyer having its driving shaft adjacent said retarder, a driven member on said shaft having 09ers- "bive connection with the retarder, a driving member on the oonveyer shaft adapted for operative connection with the driven memher and provided Wifih a brake flange, a strap run over said flange and having one end fixed and'the other end connected with the retarder, whereby said strap is tightened on the flange when she retarder is lowered, and a friction drive member on the band cutter shaft operatively connected with the driving member on the conveycr shaft and 4 use,

. adapted to sli p to render the conveyor and ret-urder inoperative when the retarder is lowered, without interrupting the travel of she band cutter, substantially as set forth.

19. In a feeder, the combination with :1 cutter, of a conveyer having a suitable shaft, a gear Wheel loose on said shaft, and provided with laterally disposed posts a disk fixed onseid shaft, having a dcq ivotallymounted finereon and adapted"v engagement by said posts, a sprocket uiheel fixed on said shaft, a 'retarder having a shaft adapted for automatic vertical adjustment, :1 sprocket Wheel on said retarded shaft having chain connection with the sprocket Wheel on said conveyer shaft, a pressure device located. adjacent the returder', a lever adapted for actuating said dog, and a governor mechanism adapted for actuation by said retarder and for actuating said lever, substantially as-and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I. affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. LANGDON. Witnesses:

MYRTLE M. JACKSON, ARTHUR W. CAPS. 

